Geranium plant named &#39;Zolarlet&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Geranium  plant particularly distinguished by the deep scarlet flower color, big flower, dark green foliage, medium vigor, and upright plant habit with medium branching.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Pelargonium zonale (L.) L'Hérit. ex Ait

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Zolarlet’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale (L.) L'Hérit. ex Ait, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘Zolarlet.’

‘Zolarlet’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘Zolarlet’ has large, semi-double flowers, is relatively vigorous, but with a well-branched growth habit, and has good heat resistance.

‘Zolarlet’ originates from a hybridization in a controlled breeding program in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The female parent was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as no.1112 with deep scarlet red color, compact, good branching plant habit, and dark foliage. The male parent of ‘Zolarlet’ was an unpatented hybrid unknown seedling with unknown characteristics.

‘Zolarlet’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in 2001 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Zolarlet’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in the Fall of 2001 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, the Netherlands.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in April of 2002 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Zolarlet’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Zolarlet’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘Zolarlet’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows a flowering potted plant of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, in August 2005 on plants that were growing in window boxes. Culture of these plants started mid February, 2005 in the greenhouse; plants were transferred to window boxes mid May, 2005.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown outside in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Geranium as a new and distinct variety. TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘ZOLARLET’ AND A SIMILAR VARIETY ‘Fisrocky Dark Red’ (U.S. Plant Patent ‘Zolarlet’ No. 12,237) Plant vigour Medium Strong Petiole length From short to very long Short Flower color 44B 40A (upper side of upper petal) PLANT Plant height (cm): 30 Plant height (inflorescence included) (cm): 36 Plant width (cm): 45 Plant shape: Upright FOLIAGE Length (cm): 8 Width (cm): 13 Shape: Reniform Base shape: Cordate Base size (cm): 5 Apex shape: Very weak lobes Apex size (cm): 5 Color of upper surface: 137A Color of lower surface: 137B Color of zone: N187A Color of veins: 146A Margin: Bicrenate Petioles length (cm): 4-13 Diameter of petiole (mm): 3 Leaves smooth and hairy: Only at nerves Texture of leaves: Upper surface smooth Veins: Palmate STEM: Length of internodes (mm): 20-25 Color of stem: 144A; older stems 59A Diameter (mm): 6-8 INFLORESCENCE Shape: Round outline Diameter (cm): 12 Umbel depth (cm): 6 Length of peduncle (cm): 15-20 Peduncle diameter (mm): 4-5 Color of peduncle: 144A Length of pedicel (cm): 2.5-3.5 Color of pedicel: 185A Number of flowers per inflorescence: 30 COROLLA Form: Semi double Shape: Oval to Round outline, upper petals about the same size as the lower petals, Length of flower (cm): 4 Width of flower (cm): 5.5 Number of petals: 5 Length of petals (upper/lower) (mm): Upper 26 Lower 24 Width of petals (upper/lower) (mm): Upper 16 Lower 23 Shape petals: Obovate, base acute, upper end is truncate or rounded, margin is entire Color upper side of upper petals: 44B Color upper side of lower petals: 44B Color lower side of upper petals: 40A Color lower side of lower petals: 40A Number of petaloids: 5 Color petaloids: 44A Fading color when flower starts aging: No Duration of flowering: Continuous flowering throughout the Summer BUD (just before opening) Shape: Narrow elliptic Shape base of bud: Truncate Shape top of bud: Acuminate Sepals hairy and smooth: Yes Length (mm): 6 Width (mm): 3 Color: 144A, 60B Number of sepals: 5 Color of sepals: 146A Length of sepals (mm): 8 Width of sepals (mm): 3 REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS Number of lobes of stigma: 5 Color stigma: 53B Length of style (mm): 5 Color of style: 53C Number of anthers: 7 Length of anthers (mm): 3 Shape of anthers: Ovate Length filaments (mm): 8.5 Color of filaments: 52B Pollen present: Yes Color of pollen: 32A Fertility/seed set: No

-   Disease/pest resistance: No disease/pest resistance has been     observed to date. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Geranium plant, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 